Abstract: A flow reactor providing a high degree of selectivity in the reaction of a feedstock to produce one or more end product compounds, which includes: side walls defining an elongated reactor unit having a length dimension along which the feedstock is reacted under varying conditions of energy and chemical flux effective to produce the one or more end product compounds; a plurality of devices for supplying energy or chemical flux through the side walls and positioned to distribute the energy and chemical flux along the length of the reactor unit so as to optimize a property of the one or more end product compounds; devices for measuring a property of the end product compounds; and an adaptive feedback control system to determine, establish and maintain the optimum energy and chemical flux distribution along the length of the reactor based on the end product property measurement.

Abstract: A rinsing apparatus used in a simulated moving bed feed adsorption unit includes a plurality of beds of an adsorbent, each being connected by a fluid distribution arrangement comprising a line for distributing fluids to at least one feed inlet. The apparatus includes at least one desorbent (or solvent) inlet, at least one outlet for an extract and at least one outlet for a raffinate. Each is characterized in that each distribution line for each bed comprises at least one rinsing valve, all of the rinsing valves being connected to a line for circulating displaced fluid. The distribution line comprises a fluid circulation pump and a regulator for the flow rate of the fluid delivered by the pump. Each of the rinsing valves is connected to a controller for controlling the opening or closing of said valves. The apparatus is used for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons containing 8 carbon atoms, and in particular for the production of very high purity para-xylene.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved apparatus and method for its use in the decontamination and remediation of soils laden with organic hydrocarbons and toxic inorganic compounds. The soil to be treated is placed in a soil treatment tray which is subsequently placed within the treatment chamber. A multiple radiant heater rack is placed over the treatment chamber and the contaminant compounds are heated and vaporized. A blower fan creates a vacuum which pulls the organic hydrocarbon gases and other vaporized contaminants through the soil and out to the contaminant vapor removal/condenser unit where the compounds are liquified and containerized. A novel automatic safeguard system insures that all burners and fans are running continuously and automatically shuts down one or more components of the system should a burner or fan malfunction so that the potentially dangerous accumulation of explosive gasses is prevented.

Abstract: A pipetting device for use with a pipette tip containing a solid phase reaction support, comprising a cylinder, a plunger movable within the cylinder between a retracted and an extended position, and a seal disposed between the plunger and cylinder for holding the plunger as it moves. The plunger has a central passageway within an upper portion of the plunger communicating with a side egress port on the plunger, the plunger movable between a retracted position, for aspirating and dispensing liquid reagent wherein the port remains above the seal, and an inserted position wherein the port is positioned below the seal for allowing fluid (e.g., washing solution or inert gas) to be introduced into the cylinder and tip. In an apparatus and method, an array of such devices is used, each fitted with a pipette tip having a solid support retained therein, for performing high-throughput and parallel chemical synthesis of biopolymers (e.g., oligonucleotides or peptides).

Abstract: The pressure in the coking chamber of a coke oven is held at about atmospheric pressure, and the temperatures at the opposite longitudinal ends of the combustion chamber are independently controlled. Fuel gas is supplied to hold the temperature at the opposite longitudinal ends to be at least about 1000.degree. C. separately from a main burner for the combustion chamber, and the pressure in the coking chamber during the first part of coking is kept in a range from 5 mmH.sub.2 O below atmospheric to 10 mmH.sub.2 O above atmospheric pressure. This allows efficient coke production even with low moisture content coking coal, and coal crumbling near the oven doors is not a problem. The process is typically carried out in a coke oven having a pressure control system for each coking chamber including plural piping devices for supplying a pressure fluid and switching valves for selectively applying the pressure fluid to the nozzle in the rising pipe through any selected one of the piping systems.

Abstract: A reactor comprising: a hollow shell defining a hermetic enclosure; a plurality of tube sheets disposed within said hermetic enclosure, a first one of said plurality of tube sheets defining a first chamber; at least one reaction tube each having a first end and an opposing second end, said first end being fixedly attached and substantially hermetically sealed to one end of said plurality of tube sheets and opening into said first chamber, the second end being axially unrestrained; each of said reaction tubes is comprised of an oxygen selective ion transport membrane with an anode side wherein said oxygen selective ion transport membrane is formed from a mixed conductor metal oxide that is effective for the transport of elemental oxygen at elevated temperatures and at least a portion of said first and second heat transfer sections are formed of metal; each of said reaction tubes includes first and second heat transfer sections and a reaction section, said reaction section disposed between said first and second

Abstract: Reactor for chemical reactions which are carried out in triphasic systems (liquid, gas, solid) which includes a bottom head into which the reagent gas is fed, through an inlet nozzle; one or more superimposed thermal exchange sections, each of these sections being immersed in the corresponding synthesis sections; a head containing outlet nozzles for discharging the suspension and outlet nozzles for discharging the non-reacted gas and a group of inclined transversal diaphragms for separating the particles of liquid and/or solid drawn therein.

Abstract: A method for modifying a standard two-bed horizontal ammonia converter to provide increased conversion and/or production capacity by placing the first secondary catalyst bed of the existing converter in parallel flow with the existing primary catalyst bed and replacing magnetite catalyst in the second secondary catalyst bed with high activity ruthenium-on-carbon catalyst.

Abstract: A multi-stage, isothermal, carbon monoxide preferential oxidation (PrOx) reactor comprising a plurality of serially arranged, catalyzed heat exchangers, each separated from the next by a mixing chamber for homogenizing the gases exiting one heat exchanger and entering the next. In a preferred embodiment, at least some of the air used in the PrOx reaction is injected directly into the mixing chamber between the catalyzed heat exchangers.

Abstract: A thermal decomposition apparatus for decomposing polymer waste is provided which is simple in structure, small in size and inexpensive, and also the operating cost thereof is low.A feed pipe 18 and an inclined pipe 23 are connected in the form of the letter V at a large angle therebetween, and a feed screw 19 and an feed-up screw 25 are arranged inside the respective pipes. Polymer waste introduced into a hopper 17 is melted in the interior of the feed pipe 18 by heat from a first hot air furnace 10 and accumulated in the V-shaped portion. The polymer melt is then conveyed upward by the feed-up screw 25. In the process of conveyance, the polymer melt undergoes primary decomposition by means of heat from a second hot air furnace 11 and the cracked gas thus generated undergoes secondary decomposition by the heat from a third hot air furnace 12, the resultant gas being guided to a condenser 7. Sludge drops down through a chute pipe 35 into a water tank 36.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing harmful components in a semiconductor exhaust gas includes: a first water scrubber for washing with water a gas to be processed; a gas decomposer tower disposed downstream of the first water scrubber; a second water scrubber disposed downstream of the gas decomposer tower; and a burner tower disposed downstream of the second water scrubber for burning the processed gas, wherein the gas decomposer tower is capable of thermally decomposing a mixture gas of a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon gas and a perfluorocarbon or a perfluoride compound by maintaining the mixture gas at a temperature of 600.degree. C. or more in the absence of separated O.sub.2.

Abstract: A device for carrying out large-scale chemical reactions includes a microwave generator, a microwave application vessel containing a high-capacity reactor, and a cover, in which the vessel is a cylinder having longitudinal axis X, a microwave inlet in the vessel bottom wall, and an open upper end, in which the generator provides single-mode microwaves along axis X in the vessel, the size of the vessel being made to match the wavelength of the resonant mode of the microwaves along axis X, and in which the cover seals the upper opening of the vessel, and the cover has a conduit that connects the inside of the vessel to the environment so that the vessel is under atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A batch polymerization process controller using inferential sensing to determine the integral reaction heat which in turn is used to indicate the degree of polymerization of the reaction mixture batch. The system uses a reaction temperature compared with a desired temperature, and the result is used as a feedback to monitor and control the process. One version of the process controller also uses a feedforward signal which is an integral reaction heat indication from a process model. In another version of the process controller, the integral reaction heat is compared with a desired integral reaction heat, and result is used as another feedback to monitor and control the process. Heat production and reaction temperature profiles may be used, along with the thermokinetic equations to determine the polymerization process and reactor models which are utilized by the process controller to optimize the polymerization process in terms of efficient use of cooling water and desired polymerization of each mixture batch.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for altering the physical characteristics of liquids and gases. The fluid is pumped into an elongated cylindrical chamber whose elongated wall contains a multiplicity of spaced apart cylindrical holes under sufficient pressure to cause the fluid to exit from the cylindrical holes as jets having an exit velocity of at least 0.025 feet (0.0076 m) per second. The jets of fluid exit from the cylindrical holes into an annular chamber surrounding the elongated cylindrical chamber and having a common axis as the elongated cylindrical chamber. The entire inner surface of the annular chamber is coated with an alloy of copper and nickel. The jets of fluid bombard the surfaces of the annular chamber to induce the copper-nickel alloy to give up electrons. The freed electrons combine with a significant number of molecules of the fluid to thereby alter the physical characteristics of the entire body of fluid.

Abstract: A self-heating metal-hydride hydrogen storage system comprising: a primary metal-hydride storage container housing a metal-hydride hydrogen storage material, the primary storage container having a hydrogen outlet port; a hydrogen combustor housed within the primary metal-hydride storage container and surrounded by the high-temperature storage material, the combustor having a hydrogen inlet port gaseously connected to the hydrogen outlet port of the primary storage container; and means for supplying hydrogen gaseously connected to the hydrogen inlet port of the combustor.

Abstract: The system for controlling oxygen flow in a gasification process of the instant invention comprises a suction control valve located between the oxygen source and the oxygen compressor. The suction control valve is adapted in order to open to deliver oxygen from the source to the compressor through the first pipe and to move to a reduced flow position to prevent excess delivery of oxygen from the source to the compressor. The system also comprises a second pipe which operably connects the oxygen compressor to a port of a gasifier. The system comprises a normally closed vent valve located between the oxygen compressor and the port of a gasifier. The system comprises a means located in the gasifier or in the gasifier effluent for detecting when it is necessary to change the oxygen flow to the gasifier and to actuate the suction control valve sufficient to change the oxygen flow.

Abstract: An array of reaction assemblies for heating and cooling a plurality of reaction vessels. Each reaction vessel assembly including a heat conductive reaction block having an exterior wall and a reaction vessel receiving cavity formed in the block inwardly of the exterior wall. A thermoelectric module is mounted in heat transfer engagement with the exterior wall of the heat conductive reaction block. A fluid heat exchange element is mounted in heat transfer engagement with the thermoelectric module. The thermoelectric module has its junctions to selectively remove heat from the exterior wall of the reaction block or to supply heat to this exterior wall. Each thermoelectric module has thermoelectric junctions cascaded for increased heating and cooling range and a plurality of these junctions to increase capacity.

Abstract: An ozone supplying apparatus comprising an ozone generator, an adsorption/desorption device for adsorbing and storing ozone from ozonized oxygen, and an ozone desorbing means, the apparatus being arranged to return oxygen to the ozone generator after desorbing ozone therefrom to desorb ozone from the adsorption/desorption device and to perform treatment of an object by mixing the ozone with fluid. The apparatus further includes a fluid storing means for storing fluid after being injected with ozone and a fluid treating means for treating the fluid after treatment of the object.

Abstract: This invention presents a sulphurous acid generator which employs a combination of novel blending contact and mixing mechanisms which maximize the efficiency and duration of contact between sulphur dioxide gas and water to form sulphurous acid in an open nonpressurized system, without employing a countercurrent absorption tower.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for use in a sulphuric acid manufacturing plant to effect heat transfer between desired gas streams selected from air, sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide. The exchanger provides for hot or cold split flow gas streams through the exchanger shell with either mixing or splitting into two or more streams to provide for reduced condensible material condensation, corrosion, metal thermal differential stress and capital equipment cost. A preferred exchanger is used in combination with a sulphur burning furnace to provide an improved preheater.